The Roadhouse: Soul Freedom, July 4th

Tune in July 4th, 6-9pm, for my annual Independence Day Special Program, Soul Freedom.

This year it’s on the 4th of July holiday, so turn it on and I’ll provide the perfect summer soundtrack for your BBQ/party. It’s gonna be HOT! 80 degrees too! Three solid hours of vintage music from the mid-60s to the mid-70s featuring soul & funk icons like Al Green, Sly Stone, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, War, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Funkadelic, Fred Wesley, the O’Jays, Donnie Hathaway, Billy Preston and many of your soul favs. Also, I’ll play a set of Stax artists to celebrate the Memphis label’s 50th anniversary. It’s gonna be good. You know how we do it!

And there’s some great 4th of July shows/events this year too. Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic @ The Gorge (listen to this show for a preview AND music from the artists who played the first-ever Picnic back in 1973) and Portland’s 20th BluesFest at Waterfront Park, July 4th-8th. It’s an incredible lineup (see calendar below), it’s only $8 dollars with 2 cans of food, and it continues to help feed the hungry.

And like in year’s past, we can’t forget about the food and drink on this holiday. I usually prep you before the big day, but since the show is ON the 4th this year, here’s your only recipe from the friendly folks in The Roadhouse:

Super Dynamite Watermelon (vodka infused)

1.

Cut a hole in the top of the watermelon, wide and deep enough to insert a funnel.

2.

Pour as much vodka through the funnel as can be absorbed (1/2 cup to 1 cup), remove the funnel and replace the watermelon plug, Let sit for 4 hours and again, pour is as much vodka as can be absorbed, Repeat the process until all the vodka has been absorbed, (eventually all the vodka WILL be absorbed).

3.

Refrigerate and serve well chilled.

4.

When it’s time slice it up and enjoy.

NOTES:

You can also use a food injector, this works well or you can cut a hole big enough to hold the neck of a fifth of vodka, allow it to sit 6-12 hours, 24 being better, serve with the bottle sticking out of the watermelon, You can experiment with liquors, I have heard rum works well too.

Let The Soul Freedom Ring! Tune in Wed at 6pm!

Here’s a taste of what you’ll hear, a couple videos from Sly Stone and Booker T and the MG’s plus a trailer for the 50th anniversary of Stax. First up, a killer early Sly & The Family Stone vid:

A bit later, in 1968, Sly & the Family Stone performed “Dance To The Music” and “I Wanna Take You Higher” on the Ed Sullivan show:

And then there’s the infamous Dick Cavett interview with Out of His Head Sly Stone, who apparently arrived within seconds of the live TV performance. He also apparently couldn’t turn on his keyboard. Wow.